More restrictions could come as Manitoba's COVID-19 trends move in 'wrong direction': Dr. Roussin

Health officials are hintingat further restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19as Manitoba recorded another triple-digit daily case count and more deaths from the virus Wednesday.

The chief provincial public health officer and Manitoba Health both suggested public-health measures will be strengthened.

A spokesperson for Health Minister Audrey Gordonindicated that will happen Friday.

"Our government is currently in discussion with public health officials, and we expect to have an update later this week," the spokesperson said.

Nothing is expected Thursday, which is Remembrance Day.

EarlierWednesday, Dr. Brent Roussinoutlined the numbers requiring the province to take action.

There were 143 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths in Manitoba on Wednesday, the provincial coronavirus dashboard says.

There have now been 1,268 deaths from COVID-19 in Manitoba.Details such as the age, sex and location of the latest deaths were not released via the online dashboard.

The five-day test positivity rate for Manitoba has increased to 6.2 per cent.

The test-positivity rate remains highest in the Southern Health region, where it is 15.6 per cent, up more than one percentage point since Friday, according to internal provincial data leaked to the CBC. That rate was14.3 per cent on Friday.

There are now 143patients in hospital with COVID-19, up from 138 on Tuesday. That includes 28 in intensive care.

The highest number of cases reported Wednesday was in the Southern Health region, which has 66 new cases.

The Winnipeg health region has 33 new cases, the Prairie Mountain Health region has 29, the Interlake-Eastern health region has 10and the Northern Health Region has five.

Of the new cases reported, 84 were in people not vaccinated, 54 were in fully vaccinated people, and five were reported in people only partially vaccinated.

Possible restrictions

Roussinsaidcurrent trends are going "in the wrong direction" and are impacting all regions.

The province is weighing its options, which could include stricter restrictions, he said, addingmore information iscoming.

"It's obviously disappointing being in this situation, when we've known for quite some time now what we all need to do to limit the transmission of this virus and the risk of severe outcomes," Roussin said.

"We've been at this for so long, but we're going to need to ask Manitobans for their further adherence, their further co-operation as we navigate this fourth wave."

As of Wednesday, 84.1 per cent of eligible Manitobanshave two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 87 per cent have at least one dose.

Theprovince announced Wednesday morning that it's expanding eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to all Manitobans18 and older who are six months past their last vaccination.

An additional 51 cases have been linked to more infectious variants of concern in Manitoba,the province's online dashboard says.

WATCH | COVID-19 update: Nov. 10, 2021:

Manitoba government daily briefing on coronavirus: Nov. 10

3 years ago

Duration 57:50

Provincial officials give update on COVID-19 outbreak: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.